Australia

Great Australian Train Trek

Program No. 3110RJ
Experience two of the world's most iconic train journeys as you traverse Australia by rail.

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Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

At a Glance

Journeying by railway allows you to truly take in the vastness of Australia, the views out your window encompassing amazing natural beauty and fascinating human history. On an extraordinary four-week journey learn about the best this immense island continent has to offer.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles at a time at a normal public walking pace over varied terrain. Standing at least three hours daily; climbing stairs (at times without handrails), getting on/off buses and boats, carrying own luggage. If you believe you require wheelchair assistance to get through an airport you are not fit enough to participate in this program.

What You'll Learn

  • Journey on Australia’s two iconic trains: the Indian Pacific across the Nullarbor Plain and the Ghan from Darwin to Alice Springs.
  • Enjoy a boat cruise through Kakadu National Park to view bird life.
  • Attend a performance at the Sydney Opera House.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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David O'Brien
Originally from the island state of Tasmania, Dave O’Brien has lived in North Queensland for more than 30 years. Working as a biologist almost his entire career, Dave has been involved in reptile research, aquaculture, government organizations, private enterprise and owning his own business. Outside of work, Dave’s interests include birding, photography and long-distance running. He has been married since 1986 and has two adult children, presently living in Melbourne, Australia and Alberta, Canada.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of David O'Brien
David O'Brien View biography
Originally from the island state of Tasmania, Dave O’Brien has lived in North Queensland for more than 30 years. Working as a biologist almost his entire career, Dave has been involved in reptile research, aquaculture, government organizations, private enterprise and owning his own business. Outside of work, Dave’s interests include birding, photography and long-distance running. He has been married since 1986 and has two adult children, presently living in Melbourne, Australia and Alberta, Canada.
Profile Image of Sue Grebenschikoff
Sue Grebenschikoff View biography
Sue Grebenschikoff is an instructor and site coordinator in Cairns. Originally from Sydney, Sue moved to Cairns 20 years ago after she fell in love with the tropical region. Sue has a bachelor’s degree in commerce with a concentration in marketing, is a keen gardener, and loves to travel and meet people. She has worked in various capacities for many years on award-winning wilderness adventure programs around tropical North Queensland.
Profile Image of Andrew Fitzgerald
Andrew Fitzgerald View biography
Andrew Fitzgerald is a keen astronomer with considerable experience presenting information on stars, planets, our solar system, and the galaxy to large groups. He regularly presents a session on the local radio station informing locals and visitors of current astronomical features and events. Andrew’s wealth of knowledge enhances sessions exploring the features of Southern Hemisphere skies.
Profile Image of Cherie Toovey
Cherie Toovey View biography
Equally comfortable in high heels or hiking boots, award-winning local expert Cherie Toovey has explored Western Australia in depth utilizing accommodations from luxury hotels to backcountry campsites. She regularly helps learners discover sites ranging from Rottnest Island, a conservation area on the seacoast noted for its quokkas (a rare marsupial species), to the Parliament House in Perth and the wine-producing Swan Valley. Cherie enjoys sharing her love of history and geography with Road Scholar program participants.
Profile Image of Rayleen Brown
Rayleen Brown View biography
Rayleen Brown is an Aboriginal who worked as a project officer to help Aboriginals secure their traditional land. She now owns and operates a successful catering business that’s been specializing in traditional bush products and foods for the past 10 years. In addition, Rayleen is a member of the national Bush Foods Council, an educator for schools across Central Australia and a mentor with the local Desert Leadership Program. She continues to be a strong advocate for the Aboriginal people to this day.
Profile Image of Michael Kidd
Michael Kidd View biography
Michael Kidd is a retired secondary school principal and teacher. After teaching mathematics at four Sydney high schools, he was appointed the principal of Hurlstone Agricultural High School, a school on 200 acres of farmland with 300 boarders, mostly from the country in New South Wales. He and his wife Robyn (also a retired secondary school principal and Road Scholar group leader) have traveled extensively with their two daughters. As group leader, Michael loves to share his passion for his homeland with Road Scholars.
Profile Image of Mark Pugh
Mark Pugh View biography
Born and raised in the Whitsunday region of North Queensland, Mark Pugh has lived in every state in Australia and worked in various arenas such as banking, engineering, hospitality, teaching, agriculture and aquaculture. He found his calling as a trek excursion leader in Tasmania nine years ago, and this has led to him basing himself in Cairns doing long-haul 4wd safaris during the cooler months. He also works with hot-air ballooning in the wetter season. In his free time, Mark enjoys trekking, diving and travel.
Profile Image of Martin Ludgate
Martin Ludgate View biography
Martin Ludgate was a lecturer at Charles Darwin University in Alice Springs, where he lectured and managed the educational travel program. Now semi-retired (although still doing some lecturing and leading educational excursions), Martin has a keen interest in local history and culture as well as the landscapes, flora and fauna of the Northern Territory. “The great pleasure of enabling Road Scholar participants to bring alive their desire to experience a sense of Outback Australia, which they have heard so much about, makes my involvement so rewarding,” Martin says.
Profile Image of Ann Newman
Ann Newman View biography
A born and bred West Australian, having lived in Perth all her life, Ann Newman is passionate about West Australian bush, particularly the unique wildflowers. After beginning her botanical quest at the West Australia Herbarium she has spent 30 years in horticulture, cultivating native plants and lecturing on native plant cultivation in gardens. Ann started leading wildflower tours from Perth over 20 years ago and is still employed in this field. She has been involved with Kings Park for 30 years as a volunteer leader.
Profile Image of Mary Gordon
Mary Gordon View biography
With university qualifications in science, wildlife and park management and occupational health and Safety, Mary Gordon has had a career full of variety. From caring for reptiles at the Museum of South Australia and looking after visitors to the Northern Territory Wildlife Park to running an ecology project at the University of Melbourne and setting up her own vineyard, Mary has had a range of roles across Australia. Having returned to South Australia, Mary is thrilled to be able to educate visitors about her homeland.
Profile Image of Russell Boswell
Russell Boswell View biography
Russell Boswell is the manager of savannah guides and savannah way limited. A long-term Cairns resident, Russell’s background is in education and marketing. His tourism career has included group and safari operation, magazine publishing and training local experts. Russell sits on several industry committees and has been the proud recipient of a Cassowary Award for services to Wet Tropics nature-based tourism.
Profile Image of Hirani Kydd
Hirani Kydd View biography
Hirani Kydd has a background in biology and zookeeping, and began leading groups in the Wet Tropics in the mid-2010s. Hirani loves anything to do with natural history, but particularly enjoys the interconnectedness of all lifeforms within an ecosystem, and how they work together or against each other. The Wet Tropics is a fantastic place to see this. When she is not thinking about biology in a landscape, Hirani is probably thinking about geology instead.
Profile Image of Betty Franklin
Betty Franklin View biography
Betty Franklin, with an artistic way of thinking and an empathic personality, has an ability to engage with people, assess their needs, and communicate easily. Betty has a vast range of experience in various locations across Australia, including greater Darwin, Kakadu, Alice Springs, and Melbourne. She recently worked for Sea Darwin Eco Tours, and often works for shore excursion companies taking cruise ship visitors to Darwin and Melbourne. Betty is a committee member of the Professional Tour Guide Association of Australia.
Profile Image of Elspeth Kyle-Little
Elspeth Kyle-Little View biography
Elspeth Kyle-Little is an Adelaide-based group leader and site coordinator. During the Road Scholar offseason, she cooks at a local restaurant and operates a small business making handmade soap. After studying silversmithing at art school in Adelaide in her 20s, Elspeth moved to Darwin and then remote Arnhem Land in Australia's far north until her mid-forties. Now settled in the Southern Adelaide Hills, she dabbles with watercolor painting, pottery, and gardening.
Profile Image of Gleny Rae
Gleny Rae View biography
Gleny Rae, a country girl with an international heart, believes music can inspire and change lives. A passionate educator, she left the east coast in January 2021 to teach music in Alice Springs and fulfill a calling to work in remote communities with indigenous children. Less than three years later, Gleny has directed several student mass choirs, worked extensively with First Nations children in remote communities, established and mentored a community folk song and string band, and performed with a wide range of musical acts.
Profile Image of Craig Mackey
Craig Mackey View biography
Craig Mackey's interest in steam locomotives developed during his university days and has remained his passion since. In 2008, he was offered the role of project manager in charge of overhaul of Australia’s most famous preserved steam locomotive. He is currently the archives supervisor of the Australian Railway Historical Society (ARHS). Established in 1933, ARHS now constitutes the largest private collection of archives pertaining to railways in Australia. Craig enjoys travel, exploring, and photographing what remains of the NSW Railways, and dabbles in model engineering.
Profile Image of Alan Guest
Alan Guest View biography
Alan Guest is a retired electrician and construction industry trainer/assessor. He has an intimate knowledge of West Australia's flora. He loves enjoy showing visitors the rich biodiversity of Kings Park and throughout the Swan Coastal Plain where he lives. He enjoys meeting visitors to Perth and discovering a little bit about their world while showcasing his hometown. Outside welcoming visitors to Perth, Alan spends plenty of time bushwalking, scuba diving and generally keeping fit.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
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